Effects of Single Parenting on Children

Jun 18
13:26

2009

Adam Carter

Adam Carter

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Often the children are disregarded in a break up, or when a death of a parent occurs. However, the effects of single parenting on a child can be both negative and positive depending on how the remaining single parent handles the situation and chooses to support their child. When the right attention and consideration is shown to the children of a single parent, then the effect and outcome and be quite good, but similarly the effects have the chance to have a negative effect on the child or children if they are not properly cared for. These common effects of single parenting on a child can help you better understand the risks that your child or children may face.

mediaimage

Negative Effects of Single Parenting

Normally when people think about the effects of single parenting,Effects of Single Parenting on Children Articles they consider only the negative aspects of the situation. While there is a great deal of potential for a child to develop negative effects of being a child in a single parent home, there is also the opportunity for them to thrive as well. One of the most common negative effects that can come from this situation is a decrease in the academic performance of the child. When the child or children have too much to deal with and are not given a good way to vent their frustration or resentment, they will often slack at school in an effort to gain attention or lash out.

Other negative effects of single parenting can include an increased risk of becoming involved in crime, alcohol or drug abuse, and other delinquent behavior that can negatively affect the child's future. The reason that children of single parents tend to gravitate towards these behaviors is because of a lack of supervision, or because they do not receive the guidance or attention that they needed in order to deal with their feelings and the loss of a parent.

Positive Effects of Single Parenting

The positive effects of single parenting are often less discussed or applauded, but they do in fact exist. When a single parent takes the time to embrace being both a mother and father for their child and does everything within their power to make sure their child or children gets the help they need, then the following positive effects can occur.

Children of single parents have an increased ability to build stronger bonds with their remaining parent. If that parent opens themselves up and allows their child to come to them with any problem they might have, then the child will develop a bond with that parent that allows them to stay on a focused and responsible path.

Those who are raised by a parent that goes out of their way to get the children the emotional help they need after the loss of a parent have the ability to get better grades in school, shine socially, and to excel in all aspects of their lives without succumbing to peer pressure in order to fit in. Counseling after a parent has left or passed on will give a child all of the tools that they need in order to cope and not rebel or fall into detrimental behaviors.

There are both negative and positive effects of single parenting, and both should be considered closely. If a child is give the nurturing attention that they need during this difficult time, then they can steer away from the negative behaviors that they may have fallen prey to, and will be able to excel the same as or better than those from a two parent home.